CN1071819C

CN1071819C - Washing machine water level detecting method using weight sensor

Info

Publication number: CN1071819C
Application number: CN96120527A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 具本权
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1995-11-18
Filing date: 1996-11-18
Publication date: 2001-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-18
Also published as: JP3068474B2; US5720064A; TW414816B; CN1154426A; KR0176863B1; KR970027445A; JPH09168693A

Abstract

A washing machine water level detecting method using a weight sensor for supplying water up to the decided water supply level and performing a next cycle if the determined water supply level is below the predetermined level, or measuring a displacement in accordance with water supply per unit and storing the measured displacement data in a microcomputer if the determined water supply level is above the predetermined level. The method enables an accurate detection of the water level in a washing machine without requiring an additional sensor.

Description

The method of operating weight sensor washing machine water level

The present invention relates to detect the method for washing machine water level, in particular, relate to a kind of operating weight sensor washing machine water level method, this method can accurately detect water level, and irrelevant with the surveyed area of the sensor of sensed water level.

See also the existing washing machine among Fig. 1, be provided with an air chamber 2 in the bottom of cylindric washer 1, a hole that communicates with level sensor 4 by flexible pipe 3 is arranged on the top of this air chamber.The water in the cylindric washer 1 on the lower surface of cylindric washer 1, is provided with the drainpipe 5 that is connected with scupper hose 6 by draining valve 7, so that can be discharged by drainpipe 5 and scupper hose 6 in proper order along with the running of drain motor 8.

The following describes the course of work of washing machine with this existing structure.

At first, add the water in the cylindric washer 1 in the washing course of work or the rinsing course of work, to the air pressurized in the air chamber 2, the air that is compressed then flows into level sensor 4 again.

The above-mentioned air that is compressed has changed the displacement that is installed in the coil in the level sensor 4.The variation of reactance value is just represented in the variation of above-mentioned coil displacements amount, and the result is just changed by the frequency that coil and capacitor form vibration, so in table of the changing value of the frequency that changes along with SEA LEVEL VARIATION input, correspondingly detect the height of water.

When the water of 1 li of cylindric washer being added to predetermined height according to predetermined frequency values, supply water and just suspend, then wash the course of work or the rinsing course of work.

Then, finished after the washing or the rinsing course of work through the predetermined working time, by the draining valve 7 of drain motor 8 controls emitting by drainpipe 5 and scupper hose 6 in proper order with the water of crossing.

But, in the level testing methods of this existing washing machine, the restriction of the water level that the detection range of water level is scheduled to, thereby the feasible water yield that is difficult to detect when surpassing predetermined water level.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of detection method of washing machine water level of operating weight sensor, so that accurately detect water level, and irrelevant with the surveyed area of the sensor of sensed water level.

For achieving the above object, the method of detection washing machine water level of the present invention, the operating weight sensor, according to the variation of the clothes weight of packing into that records be added in the variation of the water yield on this clothes weight of packing into, with detection pack into clothes weight in the cylindric washer and the water level that adapts with clothes weight that this is packed into, this method comprises the following steps: to detect the weight of laundry item in the cylindric washer of washing machine of packing into, and determines the water level in the corresponding washing tube; Judge whether determined water level is lower than a predetermined water level; If the water level of determining is lower than predetermined water level, then water is added to definite water level, and finish the next course of work, perhaps, if the water level of determining is higher than predetermined water level, then measure a skew, and the offset data that records is deposited in the microcomputer according to the output of per unit; Offset data that relatively deposits in and current offset data obtain time of per unit output thus; Time and determined water level according to the per unit output that is obtained are calculated whole water supply times, and press the whole water supply times that calculated and supply water, and finish the next course of work then.

Below, describe embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to accompanying drawing.In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is the structure chart of an existing washing machine;

Fig. 2 is the structure chart according to washing machine of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the curve map of expression frequency characteristic variations when water level increases;

Fig. 4 is the table of expression according to the measured frequency values of the increase of laundry item weight;

Fig. 5 is the flow chart according to the level testing methods of the washing machine among Fig. 2.

As shown in Figure 2, comprise according to washing machine of the present invention: the interior cylindric washer 10 of the water washing clothing that use infeeds; A conduit 11 that water is infeeded above-mentioned interior cylindric washer 10; An outer cylindric washer 12, this weight along with laundry item descends with adding the water yield in the interior cylindric washer 10; Be subjected to the damper cover 14 of lower plate 13 compressions when cylindric washer 12 descends outside above-mentioned; And weight sensor 15, its utilizes the relative displacement of the elastic component that works owing to the compression of damper cover 14 to detect the weight of laundry item.Among the figure, motor of label 16 expressions, pulsator of label 17 expressions, label 18 expression expansion links, label 19 expression Bunper assemblies.

The course of work of the washing machine of the present invention with this formation is described below.

At first, when laundry item was put into cylindric washer 10, outer cylindric washer 12 was owing to the weight of above-mentioned laundry item reduces, thereby made 14 pressurizations of 13 pairs of damper covers of lower plate, and damper cover elasticity of compression member, and descend along the direction parallel with expansion link 18.Be fixed on bobbin (not shown) around the damper cover 14 and coil also along with expansion link 18 descends.

At this moment, be fixed on expansion link 18 iron core and damper cover 14 on every side and between several pits of fixed coil, move, produce the relative displacement that causes frequency change or voltage change.

Therefore, can detect the weight of laundry item according to this relative displacement, and can correspondingly determine suitable water level.

For sensed water level more accurately, replace laundry item to put into cylindric washer 10 according to following method water, come the skew of measuring frequency or voltage.

Fig. 3 represents the curve map of the frequency values that the increase according to the water yield records, among the figure, when the water yield surpasses 48 liters, frequency skew remain unchanged, therefore just can not record the weight of water.

Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, be to obtain mean value at first with 10 liters of several secondary frequencies of measure of water of every increase.At this moment, if the water yields in the interior cylindric washer 10 surpass 58 liters, perhaps be less than 18 liters, so, because the former has exceeded the ability of sensor, the latter's weight is too light, and deficiency is not just measured its frequency so that washout is washed tube 12 moves.Then, measure the water yield and reach 48 liters the process from 18 liters always, output reaches the needed time of some water levels.

If hydraulic pressure remains unchanged, the water yield arrival 28,38 that then records is the same with 48 liters time, and is only when hydraulic pressure is variant, variant for the needed time ability and sagacity of these water yields.

In order to remedy the above-mentioned time difference that produces because of the difference of hydraulic pressure, will be in the measured time value of supplying water when arriving 28,38 and 48 liters as every needed time of supply 10 literss of water, and deposit last data in a microcomputer (not shown).That is, when laundry item was put into cylindric washer 10, above-mentioned weight sensor 15 promptly detected the weight of this laundry item, and determined corresponding water level, so that supply subsequently arrives the water yield of predetermined water level.

When the desired water level of the weight that records is lower than predetermined water level, then when supplying water the arrival predetermined water level, just begins the washing or the rinsing course of work, and do not calculate the needed time of supplying water.

When the weight that records requires to be higher than predetermined water level, then calculate total water supply time T, so that infeed the suitable water yield according to following formula (1).

Total water supply time T=(T1 * T3)+(T2 * laundry item weight)+(T4 * T2) (1)

In the formula:

T1: the time that supplies 10 literss of water to need;

T2: for the needed time of 1 liters of water;

T3:(target output-48)/10 merchant;

T4:(target output-48)/10 remainder.

In the formula (1), because the calculating of one digit number has enlarged error amount, so 10 liters of water supply times that calculate are different with 10 liters of water supply times that the water supply time according to each liter calculates, in order to reduce this error amount, having adopted with 10 liters is unit.And this is used for compensating the amount of laundry item to add (T2 * laundry item weight), thereby detects the weight of laundry item more accurately.

Then, after having obtained total water supply time, just supply water, the time value that obtains up to reaching, and then carry out the next course of work.

See also the flow chart among Fig. 5, the following describes according to the washing of the present invention or the rinsing course of work.

At the beginning, record the weight of the laundry item of putting into washing machine cylindric washer 10 earlier, determine to infeed the suitable water level (20) of cylindric washer.

Then, judge whether determined water level is lower than predetermined water level (21),, just water is fed to determined water level if determined water level is lower than predetermined water level; If determined water level is higher than predetermined water level, then measures its side-play amount (22), and the offset data that records is deposited in the microcomputer according to the per unit output.

With the offset data that deposits in and current offset data relatively, thereby obtain time T 1, the T2 (23) of per unit output, and calculate total water supply time T (24) according to time T 1, T2 and the determined water level of the per unit output that is obtained.

Supply water (25) according to the total water supply time that is calculated, and carry out the next course of work (26).

As mentioned above, the present invention determines water level in the cylindric washer by means of the weight that detects laundry item, when determined water level is lower than predetermined water level, the water yield that infeeds and water supply time are irrelevant, and when determined water level is higher than predetermined water level, then utilize the skew of frequency or voltage, calculate total water supply time according to the per unit output.

Generally speaking, although the very little detection range that has been the sensor settings of being installed, the present invention can accurately detect water level, and irrelevant with the detection range of level detection sensor.

Claims

1. method that detects the washing machine water level, it utilizes weight sensor according to by the weight of laundry item with supply with amount and the water level of skew to detect a laundry item in the cylindric washer that the water yield of laundry item records, it is characterized in that this method comprises the following steps:

The weight of the laundry item of washing machine cylindric washer is put in detection, and determines the water level in the corresponding washing tube;

Judge whether determined water level is lower than a predetermined water level;

If determined water level is lower than predetermined water level, just water is fed to predetermined water level, and finishes the next course of work; Perhaps,, then measure a skew, and the offset data that records is deposited in the microcomputer according to the output of per unit if determined water level is higher than predetermined water level;

More above-mentioned offset data that deposits in and current offset data, thus time of a per unit output obtained, and calculate whole water supply times according to the time and the determined water level of the per unit output that is obtained; And

Supply water according to the whole water supply times that calculated, and finish the next course of work.

2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, a unit output is 10 liters.

3. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, above-mentioned whole water supply times are determined by following formula:

Total water supply time T=(T1 * T3)+(T2 * laundry item weight)+(T4 * T2)

In the formula:

T1: the time that supplies 10 literss of water to need;

T2: for the needed time of 1 liters of water;

T3:(target output-48)/10 merchant;

T4:(target output-48)/10 remainder.